Character Abilities

Blade Toss

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Fan of Knives

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Knife Assault

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Against All Odds

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Marvel Strike Force Longshot is a damage dealer with a high crit chance, and he is equipped with notable speed and strong offensive capabilities. He carries the following tags: Hero, Cosmic, Mutant, Blaster, and X-Factor. His abilities reflect his role as a high-damage character, particularly focusing on critical hits.

Basic: Blade Toss – This ability attacks the primary target for 240% damage, followed by an additional bonus attack for 160% damage. If Shatterstar is an ally, Longshot delivers yet another bonus attack for 200% damage.

Special: Fan of Knives – This attack costs two energy and targets all enemies, dealing 260% damage while also applying Bleed. It has a two-turn cooldown and is usable from turn one.

Ultimate: Knife Assault – With a five out of seven energy cost, this powerful attack targets the primary enemy for 550% damage and includes a 50% bonus crit chance. The damage dealt is further increased by Longshot’s total crit chance. This ability triggers on turn two, thanks to Shatterstar’s special, which provides Longshot with additional ability energy.

Passive: Against All Odds – Longshot’s passive ability has multiple effects. When Longshot or an ally scores a critical hit, it fills the speed bar by 20% for Longshot and all X-Factor allies. Additionally, Longshot heals for 20% of his max health each turn and grants himself 25% crit chance. All allies also benefit from a 10% crit chance bonus. It’s important to note that gameplay footage shows the speed bar and barrier mechanics trigger only once per ability, even with multiple critical hits.

Background and Lore

Longshot is a genetically engineered slave from the extra-dimensional planet Mojo World in Marvel Strike Force, which is ruled by a race known as the Spineless Ones. On Mojo World, Longshot was forced to perform dangerous stunts for Mojo, one of the Spineless Ones, who filmed these acts for entertainment purposes. However, Longshot eventually led a slave uprising and escaped to Earth, although not before Mojo wiped his memory.

Engineered with superhuman reflexes, agility, accuracy, and a healing ability, Longshot also possesses the psionic power to influence probability fields, which gives him an aura of good luck. This ability is deeply tied to his personality and will fail or backfire if he uses it selfishly, for evil purposes, or loses hope. Physically, Longshot has a unique physiology, with only three fingers and an opposable thumb on each hand, leather-like skin, and two hearts.

His history is closely intertwined with Shatterstar, who is both his son and genetic donor, creating a complex family dynamic involving time travel, clones, and alternate dimensions. Additionally, it was speculated in the comics that Longshot had a child with the X-Men’s Dazzler. Longshot also played a crucial role in saving Richter, who had been forced into gladiatorial combat, from a brainwashed Shatterstar.

Synergy with Shatterstar

Longshot and Shatterstar share a powerful synergy in Marvel Strike Force that significantly boosts their effectiveness in combat. Shatterstar enhances Longshot’s critical hit potential by granting bonus crit damage, which complements Longshot’s already high crit chance. Both characters have passive abilities that trigger on critical hits, creating a cycle of benefits for the team.

When either Longshot or Shatterstar, or their allies, land a critical hit, Longshot fills the speed bar for himself and all X-Factor allies, while Shatterstar applies barriers to himself and X-Factor allies, increasing their survivability. Additionally, Longshot and Shatterstar perform bonus attacks on each other’s basic abilities when allied, further amplifying their damage output. For example, Longshot’s basic ability deals additional damage if Shatterstar is present, and vice versa. Shatterstar’s special ability also grants one ability energy to Longshot, helping him use his ultimate ability more quickly. Together, Longshot and Shatterstar form a formidable duo, maximizing damage and support.

Shatterstar’s passive ability, Force of Will, provides extra barriers on critical hits, further increasing team survivability. When both are present, they can trigger a triple attack, raising the chances of critical hits and enhancing their overall synergy. However, their effectiveness diminishes when they are separated, making their combined presence on a team crucial. Given their strong synergy, teams with both characters may benefit from focusing on the Raider ISO-8 class to further enhance crit potential. Some players speculate that the completed X-Factor team could be incredibly powerful, thanks to the synergy between Longshot and Shatterstar.

T4 Ability Recommendations

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Recommended T4 order: Passive > Ultimate > Special > Basic.

Upgrading Longshot’s abilities with T4 in Marvel Strike Force is key to maximizing his performance. His Passive is a top priority at level 5, it heals 20% each turn and fills the speed bar by 20% on a crit for all X-Factor allies, while also reducing enemy armor by 5% when three or more X-Factor allies are present. The Ultimate, Knife Assault, gains a powerful 150% damage boost to the primary target, making it ideal for quickly taking down enemies. The Special, Fan of Knives, benefits from a 60% damage increase, boosting AoE damage and Bleed application. Lastly, the Basic, Blade Toss, is a lower priority T4 that adds 50% damage to both primary and secondary targets.

Iso-8 Class

The recommended Iso-8 class for Longshot in Marvel Strike Force is Raider, as it enhances his crit chance and damage output, which are central to his kit. Longshot’s abilities heavily rely on critical hits, making Raider the ideal choice to maximize his effectiveness in combat. By focusing on increasing crit damage, Raider amplifies his already high crit potential, making him even more dangerous on the battlefield.

Given Longshot’s synergy with Shatterstar, it’s suggested that both characters benefit from the Raider Iso-8 class to further enhance their team’s overall crit potential. Additionally, it is recommended to take Longshot’s Raider Iso-8 class up to level three to optimize his performance. This choice significantly boosts his damage and overall contribution to the team.

Team Composition

Longshot is a key member of the new X-Factor faction in Marvel Strike Force, and he is especially effective when paired with Shatterstar, forming a powerful synergy within the team. While the full X-Factor team is not yet complete, there is anticipation around the arrival of additional characters to expand the roster, with potential future members including Multiple Man, Polaris, Havok, and Dazzler.

Longshot’s strong base stats and useful abilities also give him plug-and-play potential, allowing him to be used with various other teams. However, his and Shatterstar’s effectiveness may decrease when they are separated, as their synergy is a crucial part of their power. To maximize Longshot's abilities, it is beneficial to pair him with characters that have high crit damage or crit chances, further enhancing his passive ability. In terms of war defense, Longshot and Shatterstar’s barrier generation and healing capabilities make them a solid defensive option.

Longshot has also been seen in various team compositions during gameplay, including being paired with the Young Avengers (America Chavez, Squirrel Girl, and Ms. Marvel), Nick Fury and Shield Minions, the Eternals with Loki and Falcon against Hero Asgard teams, Weapon X against a variety of teams, and Infinity Watch with Gamora, Adam Warlock, and Nebula to counter X-Factor teams.

Red Star Openings

When Longshot was released in Marvel Strike Force, his red star drop rate was set at 15%. Players had the option to open regular red star orbs, elite four-star orbs, and elite five-star orbs to obtain Longshot. While some players opened many orbs to try their luck, others preferred to save their elite five-star orbs for other characters, such as Red Guardian. The results from these orbs can be unpredictable, with many players experiencing mixed outcomes.

Some players shared their experiences, including one who opened 70 red star orbs and was willing to try 25-30 more, while another opened 31 red star orbs along with two elite four orbs. In some cases, players did not get lucky, such as one who opened 69 orbs without any success. However, others had better luck, with one player obtaining a four-red-star Longshot from regular orbs and stopping their pulls afterward. Many players encounter duplicate pulls, and while some were happy to get a four-red-star Longshot, others were hoping for higher-star characters, like one player who wanted a six-red-star Emma Frost.

There are also opportunities to earn a three-red-star Longshot by ranking in the top 1% or top 3% during the second iteration of the blitz. Players who get a lot of duplicates can progress faster toward elite four-star orbs. While it's possible to pull a featured character at five stars or above from a regular orb, it is considered rare. Some players also use the seed theory, a method of trying to manipulate results for better pulls. Overall, the process of acquiring Longshot through red star orbs can vary, with both luck and persistence playing a role in success.

Is He Worth It?

Building Longshot in Marvel Strike Force is highly recommended, especially if you have a strong Shatterstar, as their synergy is exceptional. Their combined passives, triggered by critical hits, generate speed and barrier for themselves and their allies, making them a formidable duo. If you're planning to invest in the complete X-Factor team, building Longshot is a worthwhile choice, even without knowing the full composition of the team.

However, if you're considering using Longshot as a standalone character, it’s best to wait and test him during his blitz event to assess his value to your roster before committing significant resources. If you're already investing in the X-Factor team, Longshot is a good addition, and investing T4 resources in his abilities can further improve his effectiveness. Prioritize upgrading his passive and special abilities to enhance his overall performance, and then consider upgrading his ultimate and basic abilities.

For maximizing his crit chance and damage, it's recommended to use the Raider Iso-8 class, and as with all characters, the more red stars Longshot has, the better. Opening red star orbs can increase his power and make him even more valuable in battle.

Gameplay and Performance

Longshot is a highly synergistic character in Marvel Strike Force, especially when paired with Shatterstar. Together, they boost each other's critical hit potential Longshot increases crit chance, while Shatterstar boosts crit damage. Their passives revolve around crits, making them far more effective as a duo. As part of the X-Factor faction, Longshot is expected to benefit further from future members like Polaris, Multiple Man, or Havok. Though he can fit into other teams, his synergy with Shatterstar makes them most effective when used together.

Longshot’s kit centers on critical hits, speed, and sustained damage. His ultimate has an extra 50% crit chance, and his passive boosts crit chance for all allies. His basic can hit multiple times with Shatterstar, and his special applies Bleed to all enemies on a short cooldown. He also heals 20% of his max health each turn and gains barrier from Shatterstar’s passive, making him useful in war defense. The Raider Iso-8 class is ideal to maximize his crit-based kit. Longshot excels in modes like Blitz, RTA, raids, and Doom 1.0, especially at high red star levels. While he may not fit every team, he performs well in crit-focused lineups, including Young Avengers, Hero Brawlers, and X-Men.

Conclusion

Longshot's value in Marvel Strike Force is largely tied to his synergy with Shatterstar, making them a formidable duo. Their combined passives, which generate speed and barrier, significantly enhance their effectiveness in battle. As a member of the X-Factor faction, Longshot's potential will likely increase with the addition of other X-Factor characters in the future, creating more synergies within the team. While Longshot can function as a plug-and-play character, his effectiveness is notably reduced when separated from Shatterstar.

His abilities are heavily reliant on critical hits, so maximizing his crit chance and damage is essential. The Raider Iso-8 class is the optimal choice for Longshot to boost his crit potential. Investing in T4 upgrades, particularly for his passive and special abilities, will further enhance his performance. Longshot and Shatterstar together excel in multiple game modes, including blitz, RTA, raids, and challenges, proving to be valuable assets when paired.

When it comes to Red Stars, results have been mixed for many players opening orbs for Longshot. However, if you already have a strong Shatterstar and are focused on building the X-Factor team, Longshot is a worthwhile investment. If you are considering him as a standalone character, it's advisable to test him first before fully committing to his development.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)